| Summary: | The Highland Valley Copper mine site in south-central British Columbia is the largest base metals
mine in North America and is comprised of four distinct mining areas: Lornex, Valley, Highmont
and Bethlehem. Reclamation studies and programs have been under way at Bethlehem and
Lornex since 1970 and extensive areas of wastes have been reclaimed. Large scale reclamation
of the Highmont site began in 1988. Mining disturbances are scheduled for reclamation as soon
as areas become permanently inactive and these activities are planned to continue through the
year 2016.
Land use objectives for the various portions of the mine site are defined in the conceptual
reclamation plan and are refined as operational scale plans are developed. Issues and
constraints include the physical properties of the various waste materials, range of climatic
conditions, metal content of plants grown on wastes, chemistry of water sources, and the
requirements of various end land users. Examples are given of levels of planning detail and of
mine areas restored for various land uses.
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